Dec. 7, 2007
Mike Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4715
michael.j.curie@nasa.gov
Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
nicole.cloutier-1@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 07-268
VETERAN ASTRONAUT AND SPACEWALKER ROBERT CURBEAM LEAVES NASA
HOUSTON - NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam, Jr., has left NASA to take a
job in the private sector.
"Bob has served his country with distinction for more than 23 years,
both as an astronaut and naval officer," said Brent Jett, director of
the Flight Crew Operations Directorate at NASA's Johnson Space Center
in Houston. "His accomplishments and talents are truly extraordinary.
We are grateful for his service at NASA and wish him well in his new
career."
Curbeam most recently served as deputy director of the Flight Crew
Operations Directorate. He has flown on three space shuttle missions.
On his last flight, STS-116 in December 2006, Curbeam became the
first shuttle astronaut ever to conduct four spacewalks in a single
mission. During the spacewalks, he assisted in clearing problems that
had prevented the folding of a solar array wing on the International
Space Station and completed other assembly tasks.
Curbeam also flew on STS-85 in August 1997 and STS-98 in February
2001. During the STS-98 mission, he performed three spacewalks to
help install the space station's Destiny laboratory. He has
accumulated 45 hours and 34 minutes of spacewalking time and more
than 900 hours in space.
NASA selected Curbeam as an astronaut in December 1994. He has served
in a variety of technical and management positions within the
Astronaut Office in Houston. He also served as deputy associate
administrator for safety and mission assurance at NASA Headquarters
in Washington and as director of safety, reliability and quality
assurance for the Constellation Program.
For Curbeam's complete biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/curbeam.html
For more information about NASA's International Space Station Program,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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